2-8

Esp. Democrat administrations tend towards the idea of German leadership, and are also quite partial to Paris. A deep misunderstanding. Europe works best through creative tension & peer-pressure. Strengthening the core against the periphery leads to a prison of the mind.

3-8

In the last 30 years, the smaller nations of Central & Eastern Europe have been in a permanent battle to secure due attention and understanding in Washington. They always succeeded to some degree, but they were never treated as equals alongside Germany and France.

4-8

With all of the dire predictions and warnings of CEE Allies coming true in 2022, it is absolutely right, as many have noted, to underscore that Paris and Berlin have limited credibility in foreign & security policy when it comes to Moscow.

5-8

In spite of that spectacular demonstration of good judgment by CEE Allies and poor judgment by Paris and Berlin, it seems the Biden Administration wants to find common ground with the less competent but traditionally more important European capitals.

6-8

This remains a mistake. Paris and Berlin still haven't learned. They trail behind, with anti-strategic reasoning that is dangerous for European security. Everything that America did right in 2022 towards Ukraine was based on *not* listening to Paris or Berlin.

7-8

America is at its best when it leads, such that Berlin and Paris *follow* America's lead. And America leads best, when it comes to Russia, by being in intimate consultations with those who understand the Russian threat best: Russia's neighbours.